Pune: The sudden ban on a number of combination drugs meant for diabetes has created a flutter among patients who have been taking these pills for years. Patients are anxious and confused because the government now perceives these drugs 'irrational and unsafe'.

Allying these fears, doctors have advised patients to make sure they continue to take appropriate dosages of all their medications. The only change is that instead of taking the fixed dose combinations (FDCs), which are a combination of two or more active drugs in a single dose, they would now have to take separate pills.

The change, experts say, will not only increase the 'pill burden' but may also increase treatment costs.

Senior diabetologist Chittaranjan Yajnik said, "Doctors or the patients have not done anything 'wrong' in prescribing and using fixed dose combination drug for diabetes. Government agencies, in the first place, should have been more vigorous and proactive in assessing the merits and demerits of these FDCs before allowing them in the market."

Yajnik added, "The government's decision to ban these has come as a surprise. There is a feeling that the government should have interacted with stakeholders to evaluate the effect of these pills on patients' lives. Many patients were well controlled (sugar within normal range) and happy using it". Patients should stick to their medicines, consult their physician and get revised prescriptions, he said. Yajnik is also head of the diabetes department at KEM hospital in Pune.

Patients are also anxious of the increase in treatment costs. that instead of using a single pill, they would now have to use separate tablets which will not only raise the burden of ingesting different pills but would also increase expenditure. "Earlier, I would take a single pill containing three drugs for diabetes. Now, I have to take three separate pills, which is going to raise expenses," said 68-year-old Valmik Kumbhar, a resident of Bhavani Peth.

Endocrinologist A G Unnikrishnan of Chellaram Diabetes Institute underlined the importance of taking the appropriate dose and said, "Patient should be aware that when taken individually, dosage patterns may differ from when a combination is prescribed. Patients must consult doctors before taking a decision of changing medication".

Dos and Don'ts

* Do not panic and change medication on your own, first consult your doctor

* Be aware that when taken individually, dosage patterns may vary from that of the combination drug

* Remember that mostly, only fixed drug combinations are banned, not the individual components

* Be aware of the names and dosage strengths of each component of the combination pill that you are taking

With immense pride “India Live” celebrated its 10th national conference in Mumbai from 28th February to 3rd March 2019. The conference turned out to be a gold mine of information, with emphasis on academics, education and exchange of knowledge with leaders in interventional cardiology from both India and abroad.